NFL notebook: Longtime Patriots assistant Scarnecchia retires

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Posted Jan. 23, 2014 at 2:00 AM

Posted Jan. 23, 2014 at 2:00 AM

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FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots announced Wednesday that assistant head coach/offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia is retiring after 32 seasons in the NFL, including 30 seasons with New England (1982-88, 1991-2013).

The Patriots also announced the addition of Dave DeGuglielmo as the new offensive line coach.

Scarnecchia was the longest tenured NFL coach this past season. Since entering the NFL in 1982, Scarnecchia has spent all but two seasons (1989-90) with the Patriots. He was an offensive line coach for the Indianapolis Colts during those two seasons.

"In an industry of constant change, Dante remained a fixture here for the simple reason that he helped every player reach his highest potential, regardless of who he was, how he was acquired or how much raw talent he had," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "In whatever category a coach can be assessed — evaluator, teacher, motivator, problem solver, disciplinarian, team player, winner — Dante is as good as it gets. As many games as he helped us win and as much as we would like to work with Dante forever, we are blessed with the opportunity to have been with him as long as we were."

Scarnecchia has been on the Patriots coaching staff for 18 of the franchise's 21 playoff seasons and has coached in 39 of the 43 playoff games in team history, including each of the team's seven Super Bowls.

DeGuglielmo is a 22-year coaching veteran, including nine seasons in the NFL as an assistant for the New York Jets (2012), Miami Dolphins (2009-11) and New York Giants (2004-08).

Falcons hire Pioli as new assistant GM

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons hired Scott Pioli as assistant general manager on Wednesday, reuniting him with GM Thomas Dimitroff.

Pioli was director of player personnel for the New England Patriots from 2000-08, including six seasons with Dimitroff, who directed college scouting. Pioli was the Kansas City Chiefs' general manager for four years before leaving by mutual agreement in January 2013.

Pioli, 48, will join the Falcons on Feb. 3, after he completes his contract with NBC Sports and SiriusXM Radio.

Pioli began his NFL career in 1992, when he was hired by Bill Belichick as a scouting assistant for the Cleveland Browns. Pioli was made the New York Jets' director of pro personnel in 1997 before joining Belichick in New England.

Ex-Cowboy convicted of intoxication manslaughter

DALLAS — Former Dallas Cowboys player Josh Brent was convicted of intoxication manslaughter Wednesday for a fiery wreck that killed his teammate and close friend, Jerry Brown.

He faces up to 20 years in prison for a December 2012 wreck after a night of partying with fellow Cowboys players. He could also get probation.

Jurors took about nine hours over two days to convict Brent, who was led from the courtroom in handcuffs as family members sitting in the front row of the gallery sobbed.

Among those sitting with Brent's family was Stacey Jackson, Brown's mother. Jackson did not respond to questions as she left the courtroom Wednesday with Brent's family, but she has said in interviews that she's forgiven Brent and could testify in support of a lighter sentence for him when that phase of the trial begins Thursday.

Prosecutors say Brent, a defensive tackle, was drunk when he crashed his Mercedes on a suburban Dallas highway in December 2012, killing Brown, a linebacker on the Cowboys practice squad who had also been Brent's teammate at the University of Illinois.

Percy Harvin back to practice for Seattle

RENTON, Wash. — Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin has cleared league-mandated concussion protocol and has returned to practice as a full participant.

Harvin was on the field for Seattle's practice on Wednesday, his first since suffering a concussion in the second quarter of the NFC divisional playoff game against New Orleans on Jan. 11. Harvin was not cleared last week and was unable to play in the NFC championship game against San Francisco.

Harvin's had an injury filled season, playing in just two of 18 games. He had hip surgery in early August and made his debut in Week 11 against Minnesota.

Harvin suffered complications after that one game and was unable to make it back until the postseason. He had three receptions and one carry for 9 yards before being injured against the Saints.

Pettine is front-runner for Browns job

CLEVELAND — The Browns' coaching search could be nearing a conclusion.

Team officials interviewed Buffalo defensive coordinator Mike Pettine for the second time on Tuesday night in Mobile, Ala., and although the sides did not reach a deal, the 47-year-old has emerged as the front-runner to become Cleveland's seventh full-time coach.

Pettine, who spent one season with the Bills after four on Rex Ryan's staff with the New York Jets, told Cleveland.com that he "should have some feedback on my interview by the end of the day."

The Browns are also expected to give Seattle defensive coordinator Dan Quinn a second interview. With the Seahawks getting ready for the Super Bowl, the Browns have to conduct that interview by Jan. 26.

On Tuesday, Denver offensive coordinator Adam Gase withdrew his name from consideration for Cleveland's opening.

Young files for bankruptcy

HOUSTON — Former NFL and University of Texas quarterback Vince Young has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

The petition was filed last week in a Houston federal bankruptcy court, listing Young with estimated assets between $500,001 and $1 million and liabilities between $1,001,000 and $10 million. The Houston Chronicle reports no specific details on Young's assets and liabilities were immediately available.

The 30-year-old Young is fighting a pair of lawsuits stemming from a $1.8 million loan obtained in his name during the 2011 NFL lockout.

A court has granted a judgment against Young to Pro Player Funding, a New York company that made the loan. Pro Player Funding has made several efforts in a Harris County state district court to enforce collection of the judgment, but those efforts remain pending.